Ravens rookie first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins has gotten his introduction to the NFL the past few weeks. First it was rookie minicamp, and now the competition level has ramped up during Organized Team Activities against the veterans.
Asked who has been the toughest wide receiver for him to cover at Ravens practice, Wiggins pointed to Rashod Bateman.
"He's just shifty. A lot of quickness in the route," Wiggins said.
Wiggins said Zay Flowers has been the most fun to cover, "because we met up in college so we know what we both have. It's just fun to compete."
Bateman, who spoke earlier this week about how his mindset heading into Year 4, made an impressive leaping snag in the back of the end zone despite tight coverage during early goal-line drills and has looked good (and practiced throughout) OTAs.
Here are some other notes from Thursday's practice:
- Lamar Jackson was again not at practice. He has practiced once during the four days open to media during the first two weeks. Head Coach John Harbaugh said "it's this time of year" when the program is voluntary.
- Tre Swilling, who the Ravens signed to the practice squad midway through last year, had a practice that put him more on the map as a potential backup safety. He broke up a pass over the middle for Flowers, then had tight coverage on back-to-back incompletions to tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar.
- Kolar did get wide open behind Swilling and the rest of the Ravens secondary for a long touchdown late in practice, however.
- Rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker had maybe his best practice yet, grabbing a red-zone touchdown and making a nice intermediate catch despite tight coverage by Wiggins during a hurry-up drill at the end of practice.
- Safety Ar'Darius Washington made an interception off a pass over the middle that hit off Tylan Wallace's back and popped into the air.
- Rookie seventh-round safety Sanoussi Kane also got an interception against rookie sixth-round quarterback Devin Leary.
- Defensive back Damarion "Pepe" Williams came up with an interception late in practice when he diagnosed and undercut a short pass.
- Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh made a good play sniffing out a running back screen to force a spiked incompletion and also had some strong pass rushes. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley also had a better practice, though, with some nice pass blocks on Oweh.
- Veteran wide receiver Nelson Agholor participated in his first OTA practice and had one long catch that could've gone for a touchdown in a real game.
- Defensive tackle Broderick Washington had what may have been a sack coming off the edge. After being signed this week, nose tackle Deadrin Senat also made his presence felt with a sack early in practice. While he plays the same position as Michael Pierce, Senat weighs about 40 pounds less. Senat has some burst.
- There was a lot of debate about whether one hurry-up drill at the end of practice ended with a long touchdown throw to Flowers or whether blitzing cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis would've had the sack before the throw was made. In the end, the defense got the call.
